[Draft of July 20, 2000]
Underwriting Agreement
Date
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. PECO II, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), proposes
to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the
"Underwriters") an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of its
Common Shares, without par value per share (the "Common Shares"). In addition,
the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an
additional 750,000 Common Shares (the "Option Shares") as provided in Section 2.
The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Option
Shares are collectively called the "Shares". FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇"), CIBC World Markets Corp. and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. have agreed
to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the
"Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
As a part of this offering contemplated by this Agreement ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ has agreed to reserve out of the Shares set forth opposite its name on
the Schedule II to this Agreement, up to 250,000 shares, for sale to the
Company's employees, officers, directors and other parties associated with the
Company (collectively, "Participants"), as set forth in the Prospectus under the
heading "Underwriting" (the "Directed Share Program"). The Shares to be sold by
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the "Directed
Shares") will be sold by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to this Agreement at the
public offering price. Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by
any Participants as of 7:00am California time on the first day trading of the
shares commences will be offered to the public by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ as set
forth in the Prospectus.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-37566), which contains a form of prospectus, subject to completion, to be
used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Shares. Each such
prospectus, subject to completion, used in
connection with such public offering is called a "preliminary prospectus". Such
registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits
and schedules thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any
information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to
Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is called the "Registration Statement". Any
registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement", and from and
after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the
term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to
confirm sales of the Shares, is called the "Prospectus". All references in this
Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any
of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System
("▇▇▇▇▇").
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as
follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement
and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to the
Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or
supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect
and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the
Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in
all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic
transmission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇ (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T
under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares. Each
of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all
subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Each preliminary
prospectus, as of its date, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as
of its date and at all subsequent times through the 30th day after the date
hereof, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding
sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective
amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto,
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly
for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be
described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
2.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has delivered
to the Representatives three complete conformed copies of the Registration
Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part
thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits)
and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in
such quantities and at such places as the Representatives have reasonably
requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not
distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second Closing
Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters' distribution of
the Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of
the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the
Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Company. The Shares to be
purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by
the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been
duly waived.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result
in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change or effect, where the
context so requires, is called a "Material Adverse Change" or a "Material
Adverse Effect"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct
or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any
material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and
(iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or
made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other
subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or
repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class
of capital stock.
(h) Independent Accountants. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, who have expressed their
opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this
Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed
with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the
Prospectus, are independent public or certified public accountants as required
by the Securities Act.
3.
(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed
with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the
Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their
operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting schedules
included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required
to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules have
been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be
expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or
supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement.
The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the captions "Prospectus
Summary--Summary Consolidated Financial Data", "Selected Consolidated Financial
Data" and "Capitalization" fairly present the information set forth therein on a
basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the
Registration Statement.
(j) Company's Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries
maintain a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's
general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to maintain
accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(k) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(l) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized with
full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as
a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
(m) Capitalization of the Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth
in the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries
are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries
free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(n) No Prohibition on Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making Other
Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or
indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the Company
any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring
any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any other
subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus.
4.
(o) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued
and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus
under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent issuances, if any,
pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Prospectus or upon exercise
of outstanding options described in the Prospectus). The Common Shares
(including the Shares) conform in all material respects to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding Common
Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state
securities laws. None of the outstanding Common Shares were issued in violation
of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to
subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or
outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or
other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Prospectus. The
description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or
arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in
the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be
shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
(p) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing on
the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(q) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated here and in the Prospectus, (ii) by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iii) by the federal and
provincial laws of Canada.
(r) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments or Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any material indenture, contract, lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement,
obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject or
(iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable
to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their
properties.
(s) No Defaults or Violations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in
violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws, (ii) the
terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or
instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject
or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any
of its properties, as applicable, except any such violation or default which
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change
except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus.
5.
(t) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. No action, suit or proceeding by or
before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of
this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(u) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess
such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the
appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to
conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or
permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(v) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus,
The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all
the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements
referred to in Section 1(i) above (or elsewhere in the Prospectus), in each case
free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances,
equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and
adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with
the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such
subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property
held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and
enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not
materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real
property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such
subsidiary.
(w) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all
necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have
properly requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be
paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment,
fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be being contested in
good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has made adequate
charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred
to in Section 1(i) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and
franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined. The Company is not
aware of any tax deficiency that has been or might be asserted or threatened
against the Company that could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(x) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries
owns or possesses adequate rights to use all patents, patent rights or licenses,
inventions, collaborative research agreements, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are necessary to
conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus; the expiration of any patents, patent rights, trade secrets,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights would not result in a
Material Adverse Change that is not otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus; the
Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of the Company by others with
respect to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights; and the Company has not
received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
6.
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, might have a Material
Adverse Change. There is no claim being made against the Company regarding
patents, patent rights or licenses, inventions, collaborative research, trade
secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights. The
Company and its subsidiaries do not in the conduct of their business as now or
proposed to be conducted as described in the Prospectus infringe or conflict
with any right or patent of any third party, or any discovery, invention,
product or process which is the subject of a patent application filed by any
third party, known to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which such
infringement or conflict is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(y) Y2K. There are no Y2K issues related to the Company, or any of its
subsidiaries, that (i) are of a character required to be described or referred
to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus by the Securities Act which have
not been accurately described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
(ii) might reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change or
that might materially affect their properties, assets or rights.
(z) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or other
similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company
of the shares.
(aa) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company has been advised of
the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment
for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by
an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and
will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the
Investment Company Act.
(bb) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by
recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such
amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally
deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited
to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company
and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
earthquakes, general liability and Directors and Officers liability. The Company
has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew
its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to
obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or
appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would
not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor any
subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for
which it has applied.
(cc) Labor Matters. To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor
disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or
is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, subassemblers,
value added resellers, subcontractors, original equipment manufacturers,
authorized dealers or international distributors that might be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change.
(dd) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and
will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be
reasonably expected to cause
7.
or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(ee) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the Company and each
beneficial owner of at least 100,000 shares of the outstanding issued share
capital of the Company has agreed to sign an agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Lock-up Agreements"). The Company has
provided to counsel for the Underwriters a complete and accurate list of all
securityholders of the Company and the number and type of securities held by
each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters
true, accurate and complete copies of all of the Lock-up Agreements presently in
effect or effected hereby. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it
will not release any of its officers, directors or other stockholders from any
Lock-up Agreements currently existing or hereafter effected without the prior
written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
(ff) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or
related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other
person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described
as required.
(gg) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any
employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or
other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or
foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus.
(hh) Environmental Laws. (i) the Company is in compliance with all rules,
laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of
toxic substances and protection of health or the environment ("Environmental
Laws") which are applicable to its business, except where the failure to comply
would not result in a Material Adverse Change, (ii) the Company has received no
notice from any governmental authority or third party of an asserted claim under
Environmental Laws, which claim is required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) the Company is not currently aware that it
will be required to make future material capital expenditures to comply with
Environmental Laws and (iv) no property which is owned, leased or occupied by
the Company has been designated as a Superfund site pursuant to the
Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42
U.S.C. ss. 9601, et seq.), or otherwise designated as a contaminated site under
applicable state or local law.
(ii) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary
course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of
Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and
its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated
costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating
expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with
Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints
on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the
basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has
reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(jj) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any "employee
benefit plan" (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
(collectively, "ERISA"))
8.
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their "ERISA
Affiliates" (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with
ERISA. "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any
member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and
published interpretations thereunder (the "Code") of which the Company or such
subsidiary is a member. No "reportable event" (as defined under ERISA) has
occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any "employee
benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any
of their ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit plan" established or maintained
by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such
"employee benefit plan" were terminated, would have any "amount of unfounded
benefit liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its
subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably
expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to
termination of, or withdrawal from, any "employee benefit plan" or (ii) Sections
412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each "employee benefit plan" established
or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates
that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so
qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which
would cause the loss of such qualification.
(kk) Consents Required in Connection with the Directed Share Program. No
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in
connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any jurisdiction where
the Directed Shares are being offered.
(ll) No Improper Influence in Connection with the Directed Share Program.
The Company has not offered, or caused ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to offer, Shares to
any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to
unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the
customer's or supplier's level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a
trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about
the Company or its products.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the
Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters
set forth therein.
Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Shares.
(a) The Firm Shares. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several
Underwriters the Firm Shares upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of
the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the
terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase price per
Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall be $[___]
per share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased by
the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company and the
Representatives at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Halter & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, 1400 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Center, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (or at such other place as may be agreed upon among the
Representatives and the Company), (i) on the third (3rd) full business day
following the first day that Shares are traded, (ii) if this Agreement is
executed and delivered
9.
after 1:30 P.M., San Francisco time, the fourth (4th) full business day
following the day that this Agreement is executed and delivered or (iii) at such
other time and date not later that seven (7) full business days following the
first day that Shares are traded as the Representatives and the Company may
determine (or at such time and date to which payment and delivery shall have
been postponed pursuant to Section 8 hereof), such time and date of payment and
delivery being herein called the "Closing Date;" provided, however, that if the
Company has not made available to the Representatives copies of the Prospectus
within the time provided in Section 2(g) and 3(e) hereof, the Representatives
may, in their sole discretion, postpone the Closing Date until no later that two
(2) full business days following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the
Representatives.
(c) The Option Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the basis
of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the
terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants
an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up
to an aggregate of 750,000 Option Shares from the Company at the purchase price
per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted
hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments
in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option
granted hereunder may be exercised at any time upon notice by the
Representatives to the Company, which notice may be given at any time within 30
days from the date of this Agreement. The time and date of delivery of the
Option Shares, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called the "Second
Closing Date" and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be
earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such
notice of exercise. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option Shares
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total
number of Option Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth
on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of
Firm Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its
expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.
(d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Representatives hereby advise the
Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as
described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Shares as soon
after this Agreement has been executed and the Registration Statement has been
declared effective as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have
determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares shall be made at the
First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the Second Closing Date) by wire
transfer in immediately available-funds to the order of the Company.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for
their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept
delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Firm Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase.
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., individually and not as the Representatives
of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any
Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been
received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such
payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under
this Agreement.
10.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, a credit representing the Firm Shares to an account or accounts at
The Depository Trust Company, as designated by the Representatives for the
accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters at the First
Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately
available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company shall
also deliver, or cause to be delivered, a credit representing the Option Shares
the Underwriters have agreed to purchase at the First Closing Date (or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be), to an account or accounts at The
Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives for the accounts
of the Representatives and the several Underwriters, against the irrevocable
release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the
purchase price therefor. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time
and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations
of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00 noon
on the second business day following the date the Shares are released by the
Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be
delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the
Representatives shall request.
Section 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company further covenants and
agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause a registration statement on Form 8-A (the "Form 8-A
Registration Statement") as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") to become effective simultaneously with the Registration
Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Securities Act is
followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives
containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (iii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act prior to the time
confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the
Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the Representatives
promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt of any comments from the
Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for amendment of the
Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional
information and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the
Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The
Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as
possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the
11.
securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national and foreign) as the
Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such
applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be
reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company shall not be required
to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file
such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such
statements, reports and other documents, as are or may be required to continue
such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may
reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act
Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the
completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement
and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is required by
law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a
result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of
the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to
amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered
to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will
prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its own expense to the
Underwriters and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended
or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so
delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company
agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First Closing Date
or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus
is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery Period"), as many copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may
request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall (i) obtain Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby and (ii) cause ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to be added
to such policy such that up to $500,000 of its expenses pursuant to section 7(a)
shall be paid directly by such insurer and (iii) shall cause ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
to be added as an additional insured to such policy in respect of the offering
contemplated hereby.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90) day
period after the Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor,
publication or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a
result of which, in your opinion, the market price of the Company Shares has
been or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor,
publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the
Prospectus), the Company will, after written notice from you advising the
Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you
concerning the substance of and disseminate a press release or other public
statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such
rumor, publication or event.
12.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale
of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense,
a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period
ending September 30, 2001 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act.
(k) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period
the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Nasdaq
National Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the
Exchange Act.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. The Company will
not offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into any
transaction which is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the
disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due
to cash settlement or otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the Company
or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company)
directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other Common Shares or
any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares; provided,
however, that the Company may (i) issue and sell Common Shares pursuant to any
director or employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend
reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the date of the Prospectus and
described in the Prospectus so long as none of those shares may be transferred
and the Company shall enter stop transfer instructions with its transfer agent
and registrar against the transfer of any such Common Shares and (ii) the
Company may issue Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of securities or
the exercise of warrants outstanding at the date of the Prospectus and described
in the Prospectus. These restrictions terminate after the close of trading of
the Shares on the 180th day of (and including) the day the Shares commenced
trading on the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up Period").
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five years
hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of
the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the
Company with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC
or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report
or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital
stock.
(n) Directed Share Program. The Company (i) will comply with all applicable
securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction
in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share
Program and (ii) will pay all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and
any stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by
the underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.
13.
Section 4. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1
hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date as though then
made and, with respect to the Option Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as
though then made, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and
other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection
from the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC. The Registration
Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of this Agreement,
or at such later date as shall be consented to in writing by you; and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of
the Company or any Underwriter, threatened by the Commission, and any request of
the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the
satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel; and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, LLC shall have raised no objection to the fairness and
reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and
information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon
the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise from
that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your sole
judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your sole judgment,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Shares
as contemplated by the Prospectus; and
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Halter & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company, substantially in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto, dated the First Closing Date, or the Second
Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies or signed
counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
Counsel rendering the opinion contained in Exhibit B may rely as to
questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the State of
Ohio upon opinions of local counsel, and as to questions of fact upon
representations or certificates of officers of the Company and of government
officials, in which case their opinion is to state that they are so relying and
that they have no knowledge of any material misstatement or inaccuracy in any
such opinion, representation or certificate. Copies of any opinion,
representation or certificate so relied upon shall be delivered to you, as
Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.
14.
[(e) Opinion of Intellectual Property Counsel for the Company. You shall
have received on the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, an opinion of [NAME OF TRADEMARK COUNSEL], intellectual property counsel
for the Company substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto.]
---------
(f) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion of
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Godward LLP, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. The Company
---------
shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may have requested
for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(g) Accountants' Comfort Letter. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations and based
upon the procedures described in such letter delivered to you concurrently with
the execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original Letter"), but
carried out to a date not more than four (4) business days prior to the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) confirming, to
the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original
Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as
the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and additions to the
statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter which are necessary
to reflect any changes in the facts described in the Original Letter since the
date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of more recent financial
statements, data or information. The letter shall not disclose any change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise from
that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your sole
judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your sole judgment,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Shares
as contemplated by the Prospectus. The Original Letter from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
shall be addressed to or for the use of the Underwriters in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the extent true,
that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the
Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and
Regulations, (ii) set forth their opinion with respect to their examination of
the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 1999 and
related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash
flows for the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 1999, (iii) state that
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP has performed the procedures set out in Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 71 ("SAS 71") for a review of interim financial
information and providing the report of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP as described in SAS
71 on the financial statements for each of the quarters in the second-quarter
period ended June 30, 2000 (the "Quarterly Financial Statements"), (iv) state
that in the course of such review, nothing came to their attention that leads
them to believe that any material modifications need to be made to any of the
Quarterly Financial Statements in order for them to be in compliance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied across the periods
presented, and address other matters agreed upon by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and you.
In addition, you shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP a letter addressed
to the Company and made available to you for the use of the Underwriters stating
that their review of the Company's system of internal accounting controls, to
the extent they deemed necessary in establishing the scope of their examination
of the Company's consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1999, did
not disclose any weaknesses in internal controls that they considered to be
material weaknesses.
15
(h) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the
Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
true and correct, as if made on and as of the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has complied with
all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto,
contained all material information required to be included therein by the
Securities Act and in all material respects conformed to the requirements
of the Securities Act, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and
any amendments or supplements thereto, did not and does not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; and, since the effective date of the Registration
Statement, there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an
amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (a) any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (b) any transaction that is
material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c)
any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, incurred by the Company or
its subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business, (d) any change in the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (e) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (f) any loss or damage (whether or
not insured) to the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(i) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Stockholders of the Company. The Company
shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in the form
of Exhibit A attached hereto from each officer and director of the Company, and
each beneficial owner of at least 100,000 shares of the outstanding issued share
capital of the Company.
16
(j) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares shall have been approved for listing
on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(k) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company shall
have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3(e) hereof with respect
to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(l) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date and
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives and counsel for
the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as
they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence
the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction
of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied when and
as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the First
Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, at any time prior to the
Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of
any party to any other party, except that Section 5 (Payment of Expenses),
Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification
and Contribution) and Section 10 (Representations and Indemnities to Survive
Delivery) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations
hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including
without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the
Common Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and
expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all
necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the
Company's counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other
advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration
Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and
certificates of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and
all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all costs and
expenses incurred by Underwriters counsel in connection with the Directed Share
Program, (vii) all filing fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the
Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or
obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part
of the Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or
the provincial securities laws of Canada or any other country, and, if requested
by the Representatives, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an
"International Blue Sky Survey" or other memorandum, and any supplements
thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and
exemptions, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, LLC review and approval of the Underwriters'
participation in the offering and distribution of the Common Shares, (ix) the
fees and expenses associated with listing the Common Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market, (x) all costs and expenses incident to the travel and
accommodation of the Company's employees on the "roadshow", and (xi) all other
fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration
Statement. Except
17
as provided in this Section 5, Section 6, and Section 7 hereof, the Underwriters
shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their
counsel.
Section 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 8 or Section 9,
or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the First Closing Date is
not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the
Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof,
the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters
(or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to
themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall
have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in
connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Shares,
including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing
expenses, travel and accommodation expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone
charges.
Section 7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each person,
if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as
incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may become
subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state
statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information
deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or
the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or
(ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in whole or
in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to
perform its obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any audio or visual
materials provided by the Company or based upon written information furnished by
or on behalf of the Company including, without limitation, slides, videos, films
or tape recordings, used in connection with the marketing of the Shares or (vi)
any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any
Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the
offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in
any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any
matter covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above, provided that the
Company shall not be liable under this clause (vi) to the extent that a court of
competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or
failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through
its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each
such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇) as such expenses are
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in
18
connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that
the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such
director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or
at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such
settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any
such director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense
reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or
paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities
that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. The Company and each person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, hereby acknowledges that the only information that the
Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the table in the first
paragraph and the tenth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" in the
Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct.
(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise under the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 or to the extent it is not
prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified
19
party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that
it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified,
by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving
the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided,
however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party
and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably
concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise
participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or
parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of such indemnifying party's election so to assume the defense of such
action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party
will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed
separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence
(it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable
for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local
counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in the case of
Section 7(b) and Section 8), representing the indemnified parties who are
parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party
within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii)
the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the
indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which
cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by Section 7(d) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) then
20
each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable
by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by such party on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided
by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the such party on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the
other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(f) were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7(f). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 7(f) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
subsection (f), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares
purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this Section 7(f)
to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than forty-five
(45) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(h) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 and the representation and warranties set forth in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers or any person
controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity,
contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 7.
(i) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of
21
the parties to investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that
adequate disclosure is made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as
required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(j) Indemnification for Directed Share Program. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and its affiliates and each
person, if any, who controls ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or its affiliates within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities"), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating
any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the
consent of the Company for distribution to participants in connection with the
Directed Share Program, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; (ii) the failure of any participant to pay
for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the participant has agreed to
purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the
Directed Share Program other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have
resulted from the bad faith of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities.
Section 8. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or
more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it
or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number
of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the
Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated,
severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Common Shares set forth
opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the
Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase
the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed
or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail
or refuse to purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Shares to be
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and
the Company for the purchase of such Shares are not made within 48 hours after
such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to
any other party except that the provisions of Section 5, Section 6 and Section 7
shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such
case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be deemed to
include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section
8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
Section 9. Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated
by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if (a) at any time after
the execution and
22.
delivery of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date (i) trading or
quotation in any of the Company's securities shall have been suspended or
limited by the Commission or by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in
securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock
Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices
shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the
Commission or the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC; (ii) a
general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York
, Ohio or California authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak
or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or
calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets,
or any substantial change or development involving a prospective change in
United States' or international political, financial or economic conditions, as
in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on
the terms contemplated in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of
securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a
loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such
character as in the judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially
with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of
whether or not such loss shall have been insured or (b) in the case of any of
the events specified 9(a)(i)-(v), such event singly or together with any other
event, makes it, in your judgement, impracticable or inadvisable to market the
Common Shares in the manner and on the terms contemplated in the Prospectus. Any
termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of
(x) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated
to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant
to Sections 5 and 6 hereof, (y) any Underwriter to the Company or any person
controlling the Company, or (z) of any party hereto to any other party except
that the provisions of Section 7 shall at all times be effective and shall
survive such termination.
Section 10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company or any person controlling the company, of its
officers, and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their
partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be,
and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold hereunder and any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 11. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Company:
PECO II, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
23.
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
Section 12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant
to Section 8 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors
and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their respective
successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The
term "successors" shall not include any purchaser of the Shares as such from any
of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
Section 13. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of
any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.
If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such
minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid
and enforceable.
Section 14. Governing Law Provisions.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the United
States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the courts
of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of San
Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the personal jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
maintains a San Francisco office at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of America, as its agent to receive service of
process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or
proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and
County of San Francisco.
Section 15. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
24.
instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by
all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be
waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to
benefit. Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and
shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
25.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement
in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
PECO II, INC.
By:
-----------------------------------------
President and Chief Executive Officer
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by
the Representatives as of the date first above written.
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
[FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL LIMITED]
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
By FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC. and
[FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED]
By:
-------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
26.
SCHEDULE A
Number of Firm Common Shares To be
Underwriters Purchased
--------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC..................................... [___]
[FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL LIMITED].................
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP. .............................................. [___]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC................................................. [___]
[___].................................................................. [___]
[___].................................................................. [___]
Total......................................................... [___]
S-A
Exhibit A
Lock-Up Agreement
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY, INC.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
RE: PECO II, Inc. (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of
Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry out
a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will act as the
representatives (the "Representatives") of the underwriters. The undersigned
recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will
benefit the Company by, among other things, raising additional capital for its
operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are
relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in
this letter in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting
arrangements with the Company with respect to the Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the
undersigned will not offer to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise sell, dispose
of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to (collectively, a
"Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or warrants to purchase
any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now owned or hereafter
acquired directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or
hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide
gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound
by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such
person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by
the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to sales or purchases of
Common Stock acquired on the open market, (iv) with respect to shares received
in the Directed Share Program, or (v) with the prior written consent of
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. The foregoing restrictions will terminate
after the close of trading of the Common Stock on the 180th day of (and
including) the day the Common Stock commenced trading on the Nasdaq National
Maket (the "Lock-Up" Period). The foregoing restriction has been expressly
agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or
other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or
result in a Disposition of Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such
Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such
prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of
any right (including, without
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limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or with
respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that
included, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from
Securities. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop
transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent and registrar against
the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities held by the undersigned
except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and
the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the
undersigned. In the event the Offering has not occurred on or before
____________, this Lock-Up Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.
Dated
--------------------------------------------------------
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Printed Name of Holder
By:
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Signature
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Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if signing as
custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)
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Exhibit B
Matters to be Covered in the Opinion of Company Counsel
(i) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary (as that term is defined in
Regulation S-X of the Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation;
(ii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary has the corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
as described in the Prospectus;
(iii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction,
if any, in which the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of
its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To
such counsel's knowledge, the Company does not own or control, directly or
indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than [list
subsidiaries];
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as
set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" as of the dates
stated therein, the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such counsel's
knowledge, will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any
preemptive right arising under the articles of incorporation or Ohio General
Corporation Law, co-sale right, right of first refusal or other similar right,
other than any registration rights described in Opinion (xix) hereof;
(v) All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant
Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such counsel's knowledge, have not been
issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive right arising under the
certificate of incorporation or Ohio General Corporation Law, co-sale right,
right of first refusal or other similar right, other than any registration
rights described in Opinion (xix) hereof and are owned by the Company free and
clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or equitable
interest;
(vi) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be, to be issued by
the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have been duly authorized
and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in accordance with the
terms hereof, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable,
and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive
right, co-sale right, right of first refusal or other similar right, other than
any registration rights described in Opinion (xix) hereof.
(vii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be
issued and sold by it hereunder;
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(viii) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Company and has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by you, is a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles (whether relief
is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity;
(ix) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to
such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Securities Act;
(x) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A Registration
Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the Firm Shares or
the Option Shares have been validly registered under the Securities Act and the
Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment or
supplement thereto (other than the financial statements (including supporting
schedules) and financial data derived therefrom as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), as of the effective date of the Registration Statement,
complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act
and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
(xii) The information in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of
Capital Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or legal
conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is a fair summary of such
matters and conclusions; and the forms of certificates evidencing the Common
Stock and filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement comply with Ohio law;
(xiii) The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of the
charter and bylaws of the Company and of statutes are accurate and fairly
present the information required to be presented by the Securities Act;
(xiv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no agreements, contracts, leases
or documents to which the Company is a party of a character required to be
described or referred to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which are not described or
referred to therein or filed as required;
(xv) The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than performance of the Company's
indemnification obligations hereunder, concerning which no opinion need be
expressed) will not (a) result in any violation of the Company's charter or
bylaws or (b) to such counsel's knowledge, result in a material breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease,
contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or
other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a
party or by which its properties are bound, or any applicable statute, rule or
regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge, any
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order, writ or decree of any court, government or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or
over any of their properties or operations;
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification
with any court, government or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over any of
their properties or operations is necessary in connection with the
consummation by the Company of the transactions herein contemplated, except
(i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act, (ii) such as may
be required under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
with the purchase and the distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters,
(iii) such as may be required by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, LLC and (iv) such as may be required under the federal or
provincial laws of Canada;
(xvii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus by the Securities Act, other than those
described therein;
(xviii) To such counsel's knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is presently (a) in material violation of its respective
charter or bylaws, or (b) in material breach of any applicable statute,
rule or regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge,
any order, writ or decree of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over
any of their properties or operations;
(xix) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, no holders of Company Shares or other securities
of the Company have registration rights with respect to securities of the
Company and, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, all holders of securities of the Company having rights known to
such counsel to registration of such shares of Company Shares or other
securities, because of the filing of the Registration Statement by the
Company have, with respect to the offering contemplated thereby, waived
such rights or such rights have expired by reason of lapse of time
following notification of the Company's intent to file the Registration
Statement or have included securities in the Registration Statement
pursuant to the exercise of and in full satisfaction of such rights;
(xx) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and the
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described
in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such term is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Registration Statement and any
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